The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

Sometimes it just becomes so very obvious that some people really know what they are talking about.

When Florida born and raised rock icon Tom Petty wrote the words to this classic song he clearly knew what he was talking about:

"The waiting is the hardest part,

Every day you get one more yard,

You take take it on faith, you take it to the heart,

Yeah the w-a-i-t-i-n-g is the hardest part.

And never did those words ring any truer than today, as college football fans all across these great United States sit and wait for some news, any news, on this Sunday just two days before the annual ritual known as National Signing Day.

This coming Wednesday morning fans will be glued to their televisions and their computers as they scour every ESPN channel and the entire Internet for the latest up-to-date information about which highly sought after high school football players have signed official letters of intent with their teams.

University of Miami fans will be no different than those from Florida State, USC, Alabama, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU, Oregon or Ohio State as they wait, patiently, no make that anxiously, to hear about the boat-load of new talent that is supposed to arrive soon at their respective schools.

This year Miami Hurricanes head coach Al Golden is desperately seeking a huge infusion of new talent in Coral Gables after his first season with the former coach's players did not produce the results on the field that he or UM fans might have hoped for.

Golden is expected to sign as many at 34 players at UM in this recruiting class: nine early entries that are already on campus and will count against last year's total and the maximum of 25 recruits for the 2012 class.

When you calculate the possible influx of 34 new players on an 85 man roster that is a whopping 40% turnover of players on the UM team in just one year! Golden must hope that this group takes a huge step forward for the Hurricanes football team that has seriously struggled in recent years.

Based on their current verbal commitments the Hurricanes have already been projected to have a top 10 ranked recruiting class - because of both the quantity and quality of players expected to sign - by ESPN, Scout and Rivals.

Still nobody can predict what might happen on National Signing Day, when it all becomes official when the formal Letters of Intent begin to arrive at the Hecht Athletic Center in Coral Gables.

Until then we wait.

And Tom Petty knew what he was talking about when he wrote these lyrics:

Yeah, the waiting is the hardest part...

Comments

[Texascane]

Howdy...#1

[Habcane]

First?

[NigeianCane]

2

[SlingBlade]

devin hester

[SlingBlade]

i do not expect anything better than 7-5 next year...but the year after, the world better watch out...

[Q]

I say 8-4

[SlingBlade]

scouts is reporting Antonio Crawford to the U...

[SlingBlade]

canesport too

[SOUP]

Howdy...#1

Posted by: Texascane | January 29, 2012 at 04:40 PM

Well howdy there pardner!

[SOUP]

Sling...yes it seems official now with Crawford to UM.

[SlingBlade]

in case you missed it the boys bb team pulled away late to beat a young BC team 76-54...this is a good stepping stone for this team...they are now tied with maryland for 6th in the conference...they play maryland wednesday night at home...

now its the ladies turn...they play BC at 5...the #8 canes should win the next two easily...setting up a rematch against UNC at home on feb. 8...

[SlingBlade]

that means 2 more open spots barring any late decommits...

[UMike]

Sling..not sure if you got my reply on the last blog....P90X is the real deal..IF you stick with it...when I first did it, I lost 22lbs before my wedding and that was in only 2 months with more "cheat days" then I should of had. I tried to start it Monday but I was so sore the following day I had to push it back to tomorrow. P90X is great because it allows you to adjust it according to what you can do at the moment.

[Felipe.]

Random prediction: Avery Young signs with UM, TH signs with UF, Darius Hamilton decides to wait a day or two because of the Rutgers ordeal and eventually signs with UM.

I can live with that :)

[SOUP]

The UM men's team is now tied with maryland for 6th in the conference...they play maryland Wednesday night at home...

Posted by: SlingBlade | January 29, 2012 at 04:55 PM

I'll be there right after the NSD event at The BUC. GO CANES!

[Hassan]

I am with Soup and Skreetz Bush is no consilation prize. That is a starting db. If we get Howard our defense will be on the road to a d that can bribg home a title, we just have to find a qb.

[Montreal-Cane]

Men's basketball Canes win!

Canes Pull Away From Boston College, 76-54

CHESTNUT HILL (AP) - Malcolm Grant scored seven of his 16 points during a game-breaking 14-0 run and Durand Scott had four of his 19, carrying Miami to a 76-54 win over Boston College on Sunday.

Kenny Kadji finished with 14 points and seven boards for the Hurricanes (12-7, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Reggie Johnson added 12 points.

[SOUP]

UM baseketball summary:

http://www.category6um.com/2012/01/29/acc-basketball-canes-overcome-slow-start-rout-bc/

[Montreal-Cane]

I love the Heats! Lebron looks even better this year.

[The Wizard]

The fact that Crawford is committed means Howard's not coming. Hope I'm wrong, just my opinion.

[Ohio_Cane]

The Wizard, I disagree. I think at worst, he's a nice insurance policy. TH still may be a Cane. I still say 50% chance

[mi@mic@ne]

The Heat are a lot of fun to watch. What is up with Rose getting a free lane ..you cant touch this guy with all the ticky tac foul calls.. hes aloud to dribble anywhere he wants its ridiculous

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000117339359]

What Game are U watchn if U think DRose gets foul passes....thtz floppn James n Wade tht get all the good calls...smh

LETS GO BULLS

RCCF

[mi@mic@ne]

common man he initiated the contact thats bogus rose is getting calls

[mi@mic@ne]

i dont care what any body says but wade and lebron are mentally weak.. they are chokers

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000117339359]

Agreed....Very Weak Mentally and Floppers..

[Montreal-Cane]

In the end the Heats win...A W is a W.

[SlingBlade]

lady canes completely dominating BC...winning 63-31 with 13:30 left in the game

[UMike]

http://www.caneinsider.com/content/1437-exclusive-db-switches-commitment-miami.html#axzz1ktJ5GWZx

[Zakkee]

thanks RCCF! I can't take delusional fans. Lebron and the Heat clearly have the leagues approval for a championship this year. Lebron clearly attempts to draw contact in the fourth quarters of their games as an insurance policy just in case he misses crucial shots.

Who does that???? Did Bird and Magic or even Kobe try to do these weak bailouts? No, they actually do (did) everything to evade contact from defenders, so that they can get a clean look. The greats never quit, don't look for bailouts, want the ball in crunch time, and are willing to take the praise with the criticism, either way. Thats what men and leaders do.

Who would really avoid an open look???? Thats a weak dude for you...geez!

[canesteeler]

How is Wade a chocker?

[canesteeler]

The Heat will be in the NBA finals again. To date lebron has not shown he can close but to say that about Wade is crazy! In spite of the Heats problems last season they made it to the finals and they are a better team this season.

[Montreal-Cane]

Canes crushing Boston College in both men and women baketball today in Chestnut Hill.

Go Canes!!!

[Montreal-Cane]

The Canes will have a top 5 2012 recruiting class on wednesday.

Let's go Canes!!!

[Zakkee]

I don't agree that Wade is a choker or flopper. In his case, I can't let the ref's clear favoritism for the Heat, cloud my judgment of him, he is a baller thru and thru. Wade plays with the pure intention of dominating his opponent. He takes wide open looks 9and makes them), and when he goes to the hole, its not just to draw contact, its to dunk on your neck. ALL of their 4th quarter plays should be for him alone. Why does Spoelstra continue to insist on all key plays running through Lebron and not Wade?????

[canesteeler]

Zakkee, I agree.

[mi@mic@ne]

the only guy who makes the critical foul shots is bosh... bosh seems to be the only guy who wants the ball to come to him in crunch. Wade and Lebron are looking to get rid of it.

[CoCane]

Because LeBron is the face of the league...

[BEERicane]

From ESPN (Thermo Stat): For LeBron James, this was his 11th game this season with at least 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He has as many 30-5-5 games as next seven guys combined.

Tom Petty is the only good thing to come out of Gainesville.

[canesteeler]

Miami it appears as if you are not a Heat fan!

[Jack]

D Wade is a closer!!

[Zakkee]

thats great BEER, but he shrinks in the fourth when it counts most. Lebron will undoubtedly go down as the best player thru 3 quarters of all-time. He is a great player, but weak person (fragile heart).

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Dwayne Wade has a championship ring on his finger. Automatically the choker label doesn't apply due to that fact. No equivocating around that no matter what you want to say about the guy otherwise, flopper, ref protected, (wait, NBA refs protect the star players you say? This topic is of interest to me, please give me more relevant information about it) but not a choker.

[Texascane]

Kevin Durant is the new face of the league...frankly, I am tired of LeBron's histrionics...great player but after the ESPN announcement show/personal commercial, I have no use for him...Go OKC Thunder!

[Old Skool]

Lol Zakkee
Yepp Lebron is the best 3 quarter player of all time.

[Felipe.]

Didn't know Antonio Crawford was 8A all-state. Neat.

[CGNC]

The Heat will be in the NBA finals again. To date lebron has not shown he can close but to say that about Wade is crazy! In spite of the Heats problems last season they made it to the finals and they are a better team this season.

Posted by: canesteeler | January 29, 2012 at 06:34 PM

THIS

[canesteeler]

Time will tell who is correct. Go Heat

[4-Real]

Cancel the pro bowl!!

[4-Real]

Jimmy Graham scores!! The pro bowl rocks!!!

[mi@mic@ne]

no i love the Heat.. i just know they are gonna get in that championship game and their gonna need to close it out..they collapses mentally last yr ..maybe they need to do a self fine for missing foul shots in the crunch... i dont know the answer but its time to make crisp decisions instead of looking for the other star to step up in the crunch.

[Six]

Crawford is very short.

Posted by: Montreal-Cane | January 28, 2012 at 05:30 PM

Crawford is 5'11 and kid has more heart & grit than a hell of a lot of the players that wore the "U" on their helmet the past 6 years

Good good pick up. Also nice to see the in roads to Plant ... hopefully Austin Roberts follows and so does Wesley Bullock if the Canes have the stones to offer him at his size

[Ohio_Cane]

Didn't know Antonio Crawford was 8A all-state. Neat.

Posted by: Felipe. | January 29, 2012 at 08:03 PM
-----------------------------------------

VERY underrated recruit. GREAT get for the Canes!

[JCane]

We don't really know for sure how many slots we have available to use given that we don't know for sure if there a few slots that won't get filled due to not qualifying, etc. We'll see on 2/1.

Nice day for the hooping Canes today. It will be interesting to see how the lady Canes handle UNC without Stroman but at home. It will also be interesting to see if the men don't find a way to make this game a stepping stone and hopefully continue to make progress under JL.

[Zakkee]

Time has already told with both Lebron and Wade canesteeler. Wade put his team on his back in the Finals, won a ship and is an assassin in the clutch. Lebron was swept in the Finals (almost unheard of. Iverson had a worst supporting cast and managed to be competitive averaging about 40 a game at barely 6'0 tall and won a Finals game on the road against Kobe and Shaq). Lebron quit in game 5 against the Celtics (this is a fact, not an opinion and I was there). And finally for the most egregious: He averaged barely 2 points in last year's Finals and totally quit WITH the team that he put together (hand picked like a street game) and boasted that they were gonna dominate the world together. He lost the Finals with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade on his team..lol. What more do we need to see?...he picked his teammates for pete's sake.

Imagine Jordan hooking up with Clyde Drexler and Olajawon (Bosh isn't on his level at all) and losing in the Finals...lol. Or even Magic, Bird and Ewing hooking up and EVER losing a Finals series.

I rest my case.

[Q]

I just have a off feeling that Tracy Howard will be commiting to Miami. Getting this CB is huge. Should be a learning year with alot of exp like this past year.

[j.w.]

Crawford is a great pick, nice to steal one from someone else as well. By my count there's one spot left, right?

[CaneRock]

Posted by: Zakkee | January 29, 2012 at 09:23 PM

Now I will concede that Jordan is the G.O.A.T, but even Jordan couldn't win it all until a SYSTEM was brought in, and Jordan buying into that system.
What system did LBJ play in in Cleveland?
The give the ball to LBJ and watch Him score all the points system?

The watch LBJ get most the rebounds system?

The watch LBJ play His ass off on defense more than His team-mates system?

The watch LBJ dish out more assists than the PG system?

It's funny how people forget that Jordan used to fold up like a wet paper bag when they played Bird's Celtics or the "Bad Boys" of Detroit.

If anything, LBJ carried Cleveland more than Jordan carried Chicago. If scoring your team's last 29 points in the Eastern Conference Finals at the age of 21-22 doesn't spell CLUTCH, then I don't know what does. LBJ was the BEST thing that happened to Cleveland since Jim Brown...

[j.w.]

The news is positive for our chances with Howard- no time to get over-confident but when Nole fans start suggesting that we lead, we're in a good spot.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000117339359]

Bottomline....

Heat will not be in the Finals U struggled with a BULLS team who played without noted defender of LBJ LouDeng....and U only won by refree favoring and flopping the BULLS play D and GREAT D at that....it will not be U n the NBA Finals....tht is all

RCCF BULSfan since the Orlando Woolridge days....and the fact tht they stacked there odds and number by number we are STILL the #1 team and all we really have is a Great PG it says alot and if U cant respect tht I dont knw wht game U watchn BULLS best team in the NBA until the nmbrs say otherwise s/o to ThunderUp bcuz thtz the ONLY other team tht can even say a word to the BULLS....ok Im done love the site guys and U guys have the Best Site out of All Cane News that is Current....I have Sooner fans who knw this site exsist bcuz I wont shut up about it and purposely leave it as there opening screens when I use their computers lol....Keep It Up I Appreciate U Much CaneSpace

[Zakkee]

I can't believe you posted that CaneRock lol!

If he was so great in Cleveland, then whats the excuse for his Finals performance or the lack there of?

Clutch would've been for him to do it in the Finals (the biggest stage) against the Spurs, two years ago against the Celtics and most relevant and importantly: in the Finals last summer with Wade and Bosh on his new team. Clutch is not an average of two points in the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks (defensive turnstiles), the same team that his master D Wade destroyed almost by himself, years earlier.

Eastern Conference Finals<<<<<<<< NBA championship Finals..all day. Next time you post on Lebron please explain or justify his lack of clutch performance this last summer please, The one game you referenced occurred at least five years ago now.

Are you saying that Jordan wasn't clutch? You just compared him to Lebron in that category (blasphemy). Jordan never quit...no great has ever quit in a game or series (its actually a criteria for "the greats" label. Jordan has never folded against anyone like Lebron did last summer, especially not in the Finals and with a "dream team" as he called them himself.

[4-Real]

Wake up!!!

[Hassan]

Recruiting updates

I was talking to another "insider" who knows tracy howards mom, if you read between the lines of last nights tweets between brandon carrol and Howards mom you get a feel that Howard is on Board.

Another one out of left field. I was not counting on Williams to come to UM but according to my insider he may be on his way. I figured with him skipping the visit we had no chance but apparently that is not the case.

Peter King Tweets that now Schiano is looking at Butch Davis to be on staff in some capacity.

[UMike]

Tim Reynolds - The absurdity of recruiting. Over 300 people have sent Twitter replies/messages/pitches to Tracy Howard's mom since Saturday morning.

[UMike]

Love this guy...

Larry Blustein - Promoting Florida High School Football talent one player at a time. So far, we have promoted 800 players for the future - with 4,000 left!

Larry Blustein - 2014 FLORIDA PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT: Kendall Gant, DB, 6-3, 185, Lakeland Lake Gibson. @polkcountyFB @CoreyLong @RivalsCNee @JimStefani

[SOUP]

Peter King Tweets that now Schiano is looking at Butch Davis to be on staff in some capacity.

Posted by: Hassan | January 30, 2012 at 08:02 AM

U had to wonder which, if any, former UM coaches might be headed to Tampa to join Schiano. Schiano worked for Butch at UM and coached with Shannon too I believe?

It might be awkward for Butch to coach UNDEER Schiano after Schiano worked UNDER Butch at UM?

[SOUP]

UMike...just sent Blu a nice tweet saying about the same thing. Now that guy REALLY works for a living and does a GREAT job.

[CaneRock]

Are you saying that Jordan wasn't clutch?

Posted by: Zakkee | January 30, 2012 at 01:03 AM

No, I'm saying that Jordan WASN'T a CHAMPION until Phil Jackson and Tex Winter came to town, and the same thing goes for Kobe and Shaq. Is it a COINCIDENCE that Jordan won CHAMPIONSHIPS under maybe the greatest coaches of all time in Dean Smith and Phil Jackson...HMMMMMMM?

[UMike]

Papa Cane - Future Hurricane: Expect 4-Star Athlete Angelo Jean Louis to play WR at UM. He will not be playing of defense. Too big a playmaker.

[Hassan]

u had to wonder which, if any, former UM coaches might be headed to Tampa to join Schiano. Schiano worked for Butch at UM and coached with Shannon too I believe?

It might be awkward for Butch to coach UNDEER Schiano after Schiano worked UNDER Butch at UM?

Posted by: SOUP | January 30, 2012 at 08:24 AM

Yeah no kidding right, Esp since Butch Davis was more successful in every measure. He WON the 2001 NC, yeah i know Coker has the ring but that was Butch's. Not to mention that Butch has been a coach in the pro's already and of course a successful HC at NC. Schiano has not had nearly the same success as Butch. Matter of fact he is the apprentice mearly using the blue Print Butch Copied from Jimmy who copied it from the O.G. AKA the Goad Father Schnelly.

[UMike]

Hassan...is Carroll even allowed to go back and forth with Howards mom...i would think that is the same as talking about a recruit publicly

[UMike]

I thought Lewis would of stayed home this weekend and came to visit with Howard instead of going to UCLA...that may be a good indicator of what Howard will do. Either Lewis knew Howard was a cane and he didnt need to be there, or he knew there was no may he was going to be a cane and didnt need to be there lol

[UMike]

Papa Cane - Dead period has started folks. No more phone calls, texts, visits, banners, mail, etc. We will have to wait and see what happens Wednesday.

[UMike]

I think Hamilton is announcing tomorrow night, not sure the time

[Ohio_Cane]

Hamilton is def tomorrow night. I don't know a time or place either, UMike.

[UMike]

I think Hamilton announcing early may be good for us. He is not waiting to see what Rutgers does...then again, it might mean he dont care what they do and wants to go there lol..if Crawford picks us tomorrow, does that mean there are no spots left and we can forgot about Howard, Young etc? I still think Northup will/has opened another spot for us

[UMike]

Jorge Milian - If Mario Cristobal rejects Rutgers, could UM's Mark D'Onofrio become a candidate? D'Onofrio is from Jersey and was an assistant at Rutgers.

[Ohio_Cane]

UMike, I don't know exactly, but I know there's NO WAY Golden doesn't have a plan if Hamilton, Avery, TH, etc all want to come to UM.

Also, D'No isn't going anywhere, IMO. Same thing I said to Jorge.

[UMike]

Ohio..I agree we has a plan, although I don't see Young signing with us and I will be HAPPY if Northrup leaves, which I think he will.

[UMike]

I bet the FSU coaches told Northrup to wait, stay committed then switch on signing day. Good press for FSU and leaves Miami in a bind

[UMike]

Miramar, Fla., WR Malcolm Lewis, who is committed to Miami, made an official visit to UCLA over the weekend. Lewis, a 5-10, 170-pound four-star prospect according to Rivals, said he's sticking with the 'Canes. "I visited (UCLA) -- it was all right, was cool," Lewis told Canesport.com. "But I'm solid with Miami."

[CaneRock]

By DAVID J. NEAL
dneal@MiamiHerald.com

If FIU can transfer its oral commitments to signed letters of intent on Wednesday’s National Signing Day, the school would lock up a recruiting class with exactly what it wanted, including three Class 8A-6A First Team All-Dade players.

“[Linebackers] are a point of emphasis in recruiting this year,” said FIU coach Mario Cristobal.

FIU labored hard to get Fort Meade outside linebacker Jamie Willis. The Panthers flipped Palatka linebacker Leroy Owens from Syracuse and are trying to hold onto oral commit Josh Glanton from Haines City High as Syracuse goes after him.

Owens and Glanton, who Tweeted recently that Cristobal was the “coolest coach” in the nation, are just two FIU recruits that other schools will attempt to poach in these last few days. So, for FIU, it’s probably not the best time for there to be reports and rumors flying that Rutgers has Cristobal, an assistant coach there from 2001-03, at the top of their coaching search list.

A source close to Cristobal said he has not been contacted by Rutgers. A Sunday night Newark Star-Ledger online story reported that Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti spoke with Cristobal Sunday.

Pernetti said last Thursday in a media session that he wanted a coach in place by Wednesday. He also said he wanted someone with experience recruiting the area, which Cristobal did during his time at Rutgers.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/30/2615076/rutgers-taking-a-hard-look-at.html#storylink=cpy

[Ohio_Cane]

CBS Sports Miami - RB Davante Bourque has narrowed his list to Miami and Tennessee. Bourque is committed to Tennessee but, according to Canesport.com, is considering Miami because his long-time friend, DT Jacoby Briscoe, is headed to Coral Gables. Bourque, a four-star prospect according to Rivals, will make his decision on Wednesday.

[UpNorthCane]

Ohio, what if we over recruit? what if Bourque decides he wants to be a cane along with young, hamilton and howard? would we need some transfers to happen in order to have room for them?

[UMike]

UpNorth..we have 1 spot left (at least), I think Northrup is gone, that is 2 spots and you can count on 1 or 2 players having to go to prep school lol

[UpNorthCane]

Umike, if northrup does leave which at this point idc like most of us here at the blog that means we have 2 spots as u stated.... i wish i kne what goldens plan is if all four of these guys decide to be canes loll

[Ohio_Cane]

He probably already knows if most, or all, players are committing and where. Trust the Golden boy.

[Ohio_Cane]

Papa Cane regarding Bourque - No, he is not. Will attend Tennessee. Hat game.

[UpNorthCane]

soo if i had to ask....Ohio or Umike out of

Hamilton
Young
Bourque
Howard
JH Clemons

who do you think ends up a cane and the percentages of each? i perosnally wouldnt mind a swap of northrup to fswho for JH clemons.

[Ohio_Cane]

Hamilton - 70%
Young - 35%
Bourque - 2%
Howard - 50%
Clemons - No idea really, but guessing 25%

All IMO.

[UpNorthCane]

i figured Bourques ship has sailed wouldve been a good back i think..

[LB]

UpNorth,

I'd say that Bourque is about a 5%, and I'm being kind.

Young is about 10%.

The others I have no idea.

[UMike]

Hamilton - 90%
Young - 5%
Bourque - 5%
Howard - 75%
JH Clemons - like Ohio..no clue lol

[UpNorthCane]

idk about tennesse they just lost their best LB recruit to texas, it just looks like they are in limbo their...

but idk i really dont care to much about young

Ill be ecstatic with

Hamilton
Howard
JH clemons

[CaneRock]

Interesting story about Darius Hamilton, and His dad, former NYG, Keith Hamilton:

http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/football/index.ssf/2011/08/darius_hamiltons_path_to_football_excellence_follows_in_father_keiths_footsteps.html

[UMike]

I think with the late push for Howard..the wooing of his mom, all his good friends coming here, we have a great shot at Howard.

[Ohio_Cane]

UMike, I agree we have a shot, I still don't buy that it's a "great shot".

Listening to this kid talk, it seems as if his relationship with the coaches will matter more than playing where his friends are.

Will depend on the impression the coaches made this weekend, IMO.

[CaneRock]

I think Howard goes to UF.
At the end of the day, Muschamp can literally sell TH on the prospects of COMPETITION...IOWs, beating Bama',LSU,Auburn,Georgia,and South Carolina.
That's not a bad selling point by Muschamp IF He's using it.
I mean, who's there to beat in the ACC outside of FSU and maybe VT and Clemson...

[Hassan]

Hamilton - 5%
Young - 10%
Bourque - 25%
Howard - up to 65%
JH Clemons- 25%

[UpNorthCane]

Beating Alabama, LSU, Georgia, or South Carolina? Muschump better not be selling that because his team can not be any of those teams thats for sure. TH comes to Miami helps win the ACC then balls out in a BCS game and the following year we win it all.